Accept is a verb meaning take or agree to: accept an offer, accept payment, accept the fact. Except means apart from, not including: everyone except Nina. They sound almost alike, but accept starts with a weak uh sound and except with a short ih. To remember: except starts like exclude.
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accept an offer/payment/fact; everyone except someone; except that/when
- The studio accepts bookings by email.
- Everyone except the photographer arrived before nine.
- I accepted the invitation, but I cannot stay for dinner.
What changed
First versionEveryone accept Nina had already signed the form.
RevisionEveryone except Nina had already signed the form.
The words sound almost the same, so people write whichever is more familiar. But Nina is being left out of the group, and apart from is except. Accept is a verb, so Everyone accept Nina would mean everyone welcomes Nina.
Except for also means apart from: everyone except for Nina. At the start of a sentence you usually need it: Except for Nina, everyone signed. Accept has its own partners: accept responsibility, accept an apology.
Your turn
All the rooms are ready ___ the one upstairs.
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except — One room is left out of the ready ones, so you need except, apart from. Accept is a verb meaning take, and it doesn't fit here.
Describe a group of people or things where one doesn't fit. Use except.
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